Southwark Liberal Democrats Respond to Heathrow Expansion: Labour’s Climate Credentials in Tatters

Southwark Liberal Democrats have renewed their local opposition to the expansion of Heathrow airport, joining Liberal Democrats across the capital to voice their concern, as Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed today that government will back a third runway at Heathrow.

Southwark Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson Cllr Graham Neale successfully moved a motion formally adopting opposition in 2018, with the council lodging its opposition in response to government consultation. 

The Southwark Liberal Democrats have since similarly opposed the expansion of city airport, saying that the impact on greenhouse gas emissions, as well as local residents, cannot be ignored. 

Posting on social media, the Liberal Democrats’ London Spokesperson Luke Taylor MP said: 

“The Chancellor has utterly failed to understand the importance of getting to Net Zero. It isn't a nice-to-have, it's the whole ball game. And expanding Heathrow tears it to shreds. There are so many better options to boost green growth” 

Southwark Liberal Democrats Environment Spokesperson Cllr Graham Neale added:  

“Labour’s climate credentials, locally and nationally, are in tatters. Southwark declared a climate emergency in 2019, but since then its approach has been ‘unemergency like’, with even its own internal audit slamming progress. Rachel Reeves’ commitment to expanding Heathrow airport is a disaster for the country’s climate goals. Only the Liberal Democrats will go greener faster.”